NJ cops: Gunman in daylong standoff has hostages

A state police swat team member readies a robot to enter a home where a man had barricaded himself on Friday, May 10, 2013 in Trenton, N.J. The standoff continued into Saturday evening with an armed man who police said took multiple hostages. Authorities worked to negotiate his surrender and his captives’ safe release. (AP Photo/The Trentonian, Scott Ketterer)

TRENTON, N.J. — A standoff with an armed man who police said took multiple hostages entered its second day Saturday as authorities worked to negotiate his surrender and his captives’ release.

The man, whose identity has not been released, remained holed-up in a two-story red brick house in South Trenton more than 25 hours after the standoff began Friday afternoon, authorities said.

Trenton police Lt. Stephen Varn declined to give any details on the number of people being held, their ages or relationship to the armed man.

State police Lt. Stephen Jones called the standoff an “ongoing, tense situation” and said police were working to “bring this to a peaceful end.”

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But family members of a woman they said was among the hostages grew angry as the standoff continued. Late Saturday afternoon, some of them went under police tape and briefly confronted officers about the situation.

“Do something! Do something!” screamed a man who said he was the woman’s nephew. “Make something happen!”

Police were called to the home before 3 p.m. Friday on reports that a man had barricaded himself inside.

Authorities said police entered the home and found the man brandishing a gun. Police retreated safely, and a SWAT team was called in. Police continued to negotiate with the man Saturday morning, Varn said, and police had a robot on scene ready to enter the home.

State Police Sgt. Adam Grossman said an arson bomb unit was also on the scene. Police declined to say whether the man was making any demands.

Homes on the surrounding block have been evacuated as a precaution, and police tape cordoned off the street in front of the house and nearby. An ambulance was parked near the home but left the scene earlier Saturday.